Argentina make Germany work for win

Germany stay on course for a third-straight World Cup title after a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Argentina.

Defending champions Germany overcame Argentina 4-3 in a tightly-contested World Cup encounter at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.

Martin Zwicker scored twice as Matthias Witthaus and Martin Haner added one each to help Germany win against a resolute Argentina, who with three successive defeats are now out of the tournament. Lucas Martin Vila, Matias Enrique Paredes and Pedro Ibarra were on target to ensure that the South Americans were in with a chance until the final whistle.

The victory puts Germany second in Pool A with seven points. The Netherlands, after their 6-0 drubbing of Canada earlier in the evening, lead the pool with three wins out of three. New Zealand, who overcame Korea 2-1 in the opening match, are third with six points. They are followed by their Asians opponents, who are fourth with as many points. Argentina and Canada are at the bottom of the pool, with both teams having lost all their three ties.

Having won all their previous four World Cup meetings against Argentina, Germany were expected to cruise past the South Americans, who had managed only one goal in their previous two defeats in the tournament. But that was hardly the case as the 14th ranked Argentina made the champions fight for the win.

The match commenced on an expected note with Germany taking a quick lead. Witthaus set up Zwicker, who made it 1-0 in the fifth minute. But the advantage did not last for long.

Some sloppy defending by the German defenders left Vila unmarked and the 23-year-old striker raced into the circle before lobbing past German keeper Tim Jessulat to pull level within a minute.

After a brief period of sustained pressure from the Argentines, Germany reclaimed the lead. They won two quick penalty corners and scored off the second. Zwicker got his second of the night as he deflected the ball into the net.

Germany added one more in the 23rd minute when Witthaus shrugged off the markers to make it 3-1. But Argentina refused to give up. Their incessant attacking was duly rewarded when Paredes slotted home from a short corner in the 34th minute.

The two teams reached the break with the score 3-2 in Germany’s favour. With five goals coming in the fast-paced first half, the second half promised greater entertainment.

Germany came out all guns blazing in the second half. They attacked the Argentine defence from both flanks and when Haner scored in the 51st minute, the tie was believed to have been settled with the scoreboard now showing 4-2.

But the South Americans continued their fight. Ibarra scored off another penalty corner in the 56th minute to reduce Germany’s lead back to one goal. That goal made for an enthralling finish.

Argentina went on an all-out attack trying their best to draw level. But the German defence found its feet at last and saw off the final few minutes to take the win.

Germany will now play the Netherlands on Sunday while Argentina will take on New Zealand.